The issue really isn't that perverts infiltrated an organization. It's the response when the criminal activity was discovered.
If the information was gained through confession the Bishop hearing the confession wouldn't be able to go to the police but he could require the confessor to. If for some reason the Bishop can't force the confessor to do that he sure can move the criminal to a place where there are no young boys and girls. Instead the response seems to be to keep it quiet to "protect the reputation of the church".
It's the cover up that makes it so much worse.
Exactly.
That said, I believe withholding the information of a crime from legal authorities, is a criminal act, in most jurisdictions.
If you know of a paedophile, you can be in legal trouble for not informing the authorities. This is what I’m aware of.
Other than this, the moral hypocrisy makes such cases stand out, as it has, with the RCC.
It's the cover up that makes it so much worse
Granted, but again, I reiterate. It is that judgement to which I refer. The acts are indefensible. The accounts in the media of the reaction to them relfects questionable judgement in that reaction.
I was not there, I pretend no knowledge of what was said nor that which was done, nor of the protocols for handling such instances, but the appearance the media gives is that the choices were of questionable nature.
However, the MSM is composed of people, many of whom have an axe to grind with the one Church which has failed to yield onany of the MSM's pet issues, especially abortion and homosexuality.
To present a gay-infused and often atheistic media as an unbiased attacker would be disingenious indeed.
That’s what so many who criticize the Catholic Church seem to miss. Much is said about the fact that there were pedophiles but it seems that many tend to not recognize that pedophiles are everywhere.
The Catholic Church should not be criticized any more than any other church, or any other organization, because pedophiles have slipped in. However, I do believe that ANY church should be setting the example in dealing with them, so in that respect the Catholic Church, and any other Church, should be more accountable than any other organization for not dealing with it in light of Biblical teaching on immorality.